A trip to North Platte did wonders to boost Shane Hanchey's confidence.

The Sulphur, La. man was sure of his tie-down roping skills and sure of his horse's ability, but he just needed to have everything come together.

Hanchey, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, won the first go-round of the tie-down roping at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Wednesday night. His 9.1-second run was on the horse he's had since high school, a quarter-horse gelding named Reata.

Reata underwent colic surgery last November, and North Platte was his second rodeo back. After his win tonight, Hanchey was pleased.

"It's good to get a good run kicked off to start this long summer run," he said.

Hanchey and his traveling partners, Cory Solomon and 2012 World Champion Tie-down Roper Tuf Cooper, are on their way to Canada. It's Hanchey's and Cooper's first trip to compete in North Platte.

"Cory talked good about the rodeo, and it's on our way (to Canada.) We were at Weatherford (Texas), last night, drove all night, got here at noon, napped, and got ready for tonight," Hanchey said. We'll rope in the morning (at slack) and head up to Canada."

Hanchey says the summer rodeo run is perfect for tie-down roping.

"Our type of roping is in the summer, to where we can rope every day, get in the groove, get everything going. When you get out here (on the road) in the summer, you can keep your head down and the gas pedal down and keep racking up money," he said.

Getting in the groove can be tough, Hanchey said. The three men watch film of their runs, critique them, and "if we did something wrong, we'll point it out to each other. That's how you stay positive. You have to travel with a group of people who know your roping well and know your horses well. It keeps your attitude good."

"The mental game of rodeo is the most underrated part from outsiders looking in," he said. "It's not just about backing (your horse into the box) and roping, or having a good calf. It's a lot more than that."